Mine supporting structure for working mines



June 12. 1956 K GERLACH MINE SUPPORTING STRUCTURE FOR WORKING MINES 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 21 1950 j Inventor? m4 194 gnu/4c K. GERLACH June 12, 1956 MINE SUPPORTING STRUCTURE FOR WORKING MINES 6 Sheets-Sheet 2'.

Filed Nov. 21 1950 f I 1 I2 15 nm 7 MM m @M 3 M Q June 12, 1956 K. GERLACH 2,749,712

MINE] SUPPORTING STRUCTURE FOR WORKING MINES Filed Nov. 21, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 I I .l

j Inventor KA 4 47904 0/ flx-nrk June 12, 1956 K. GERLACH 2,749,712

MINE SUPPORTING STRUCTURE FOR WORKING MINES Filed NOV. 21, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Inventor:

K/l EL gay/4c June 12, 1956' K. GERLACH 2,749,712

MINE SUPPORTING STRUCTURE! FOR WORKING MINES Filed Nov. 21 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 K. GEPLACH June 12, 1956 MINE SUPPORTING STRUCTURE FOR WORKING MINES 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed NOV. 21 1950 iz awza ,4 f/VT United States Patent 0 MINE SUPPORTING STRUCTURE FOR WORKING MINES Numerous different types of mine supporting structures for working mines are known employing props or stemples and pivot girders which are movably connected with one another, in which the end of one girder engages the bifurcated end of the other girder and in which the pivoted girders are locked in their joints by means of tensioning arrangements which are effective in the direction of their axes.

It is a particular object of the invention to provide a mine supporting structure of this type in which the pivot joint of the pivot girders is particularly simple as to construction and servicing and is distinguished by a very strong form of construction. In this connection special provisions are made to obtain favorable conditions for the leverage relationships which are applied across the articulation and which determine the forces across the members of the joints.

It is a further object of the invention to facilitate the releasing of such joints of pivot girders in that the bifurcated end of the girder which is engaged by the adjacent end of the other girder is provided with a new and advantageous form of construction.

It is an essential feature of the invention that joint locking members for the pivot joints which are axially movable are provided within the efiective operating range of the tensioning devices, by means of which the locking of the joints of the pivot girders is effective. In accordance with the invention those parts of the joints of the pivot girder connections which are under the influence of the tensioning arrangement are axially movable.

In particular, one feature of the invention is realized in that the tightening wedge which effects lateral movement of the abutment is arranged at or approximately at the center of the girder, which provides a particularly simple and rigid arrangement. Such an arrangement also makes it readily possible to turn the girders 180 without taking particular precautions as to the form of construction.

Thus, in general, the mine supporting structure in accordance with the invention provides for the diiferent positions of the pivot girders with respect to one another being determined by displacement of joint locking members along the longitudinal axis. This longitudinal displacement may be inherent in one or the other pivot girder proper, or it may, on the other hand, be effected by special thrust blocks, which are displaceable by the forces applied against them by the particular tensioning means.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a mine supporting structure, particularly one providing for an open robbing side which is unobstructed by props or stemples, which includes stemples and girders which are movably connected with one another, in which the end of one girder engages a bifurcated end of the other girder, and a further object of the invention resides in providing a robbing possibility for the loosening of the joints of the girders from the sides. For example, in accordance with 'ice the invention the fork may be constructed to be entirely or partly releasable from the side. This laterally releasable construction may, in accordance with the in-' vention, be limited to one side of the fork which, for' example, may be arranged to be displaceable or turnable' in one end of the girder. In particular, such an embodiment of the invention can be so constructed that the one check of the fork is pivoted around a vertical bolt andpreferably so arranged that it can be arrested in its turning movement. This arresting, may, for example be pro-- vided in that the releasable cheek rests against abutments on the end of the girder which prevent turning movement and is laterally movable with or on its pivot bolt in order to be placed outside of the range of the abutments. The interlocking of the releasable cheek can, on the other hand, also be achieved by means of projections or recesses. in the form of ledges at the end of the girder with which the removable cheek can be engaged.

On the other hand, there are also embodiments of theinvention in which the releasable cheek pivots around a vertical bolt. In both cases it may prove advantageous to lock the releasable cheek by means of rods, latches or clamps to insure against lateral sliding.

In order to safely avoid a decrease of the supporting strength of the locked fork joint which might result from tolerances caused by the lateral releasability of the interengaging parts, the engagement of the releasable cheek with the end of the pivot girder may, in accordance with the invention, be eifected in such a manner, that the releasable check is placed under the control of a clamping means along its pivot connection with the end of the pivot girder, whereby this tolerance is safely eliminated.

This clamping may, for example, be achieved in that the above mentioned abutments or ledges for locking the girder are provided with corresponding wedge-shaped engagement planes against which corresponding matching planes of the releasable cheek come to rest as this structural component is installed. For the same purpose the pivot bolt of the releasable cheek may, for example, be of conical conformation. The connection of the individual girder ends with each other may assume ditferent conformations in accordance with the invention and fundamentally all pivot girder connections are possible in which a forked end is employed. The turning of the girders proper may, in this connection take place in the usual manner around a tap or pin, which, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention may be arranged as a rigid member at the end of the girder or of the rigid check of the head. On the other hand, however, that end of the head which enters between the cheeks of the fork may, in accordance with the invention be provided with a pair of trunnions which engage corresponding recesses or bores in the rigid and in the releasable cheek of the fork.

Further advantageous details of the invention are shown in the drawings where the invention is illustrated by means of different examples, and Where Figs. 1 and 2 show a bottom view and a side elevation of a connection for pivot girders in accordance with the invention having rigid fork cheeks,

Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate another embodiment of such a joint in plan and side elevational view with parts broken away to expose the thrust block,

Figs. 5 and 6 show a bottom and side elevational view of a further embodiment of such a joint with the wedge cut adjacent the aperture in Fig. 6,

Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate a locking member, Fig. 7 being partly in section, of a pivot joint in accordance with Figs. 5 and 6 in plan view and side elevation.

Figs. 9 and 10 show a bottom view and side elevation of a further embodiment of such a pivot joint with the pin and wedge cut off at the aperture in Fig. 10,

Figs. 11 and 12 show in bottom and side clevational view a pivot joint in accordance with Figs. and 6 where one cheek of the fork is releasable with the wedge cut off at the aperture,

Figs. 13 and 14 illustrate a plan view and a side elevation of a joint in accordance with Figs. 9 and 10, but having a releasable fork Check with the pin and wedge cut off at the aperture,

Figs. 15 and 16 show-a further embodiment of a pivot joint construction having a releasable fork cheek, Fig. 16 being a cross section taken along line XVE XH of Fig. 15,

Fig. '17 is a schematicillustration of another embodiment, and Figs. 18 and 19, and 20 and 2l'illu'strate two further embodiments of joints having a releasable fork cheek Figs. 20 and 21 being partly in cross section, while Fig. 22 is a cross-secti0-n along line XXii--XXil of Fig. 20.

In the embodiments illustrated the ends of the pivot girder are identified by reference numerals 1 2, the pin which constitutes the actual pivot by 3, and 4 designates the tensi'oning means which is in the form of a transverse wedge or key in all of the embodiments illustrated. The end of the pivot girder 1 is in each case bifurcated, having cheeks 16 and 17, and the end of the girder member 2 is provided with a tongue supported between the checks by means of a pin. The girders proper are preferably in the form of box shaped girder sections.

In the embodiment in accordance with Figs. 1 and 2 a thrust block 5 constituting a joint locking member is inovably arranged on the girder 1 under control of the transverse key 4, which with the aid of transverse key 4 is supported against the lower part of the front plane 6 of the head end of the pivoted girder 2 and thus maintains the pivoted girder 2 in a given position of adjustmcnt with respect to girder 1. The displaceable thrust block 5 is here constructed in the form of a channel piece which slides over the girder 1 and the transverse key 4 is disposed in the axis of the pivot girders 1 and 2. For supporting the lever arms which bear against the thrust block or hearing 5 and the front plane 6 the channelshaped thrust block supports itself against the area 7 along the under-side of the girder 1.

As noted from Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings the thrust bearing 5 comprises a U-shaped channel member which fits over the girder 1 in such a manner that a surface or area 7 is arranged proximate the bottom of. girder 1. The end of the surface forming area 7 defines a plane surface which extends substantially transversely of the cheeks 16 and 17. The thrust bearing 5 is slidably arranged on girder 1 and is provided with aligned apertures 4t} and 41, one on each leg of the channel shaped member for receiving the wedge shaped key 4. Girder 1 is also provided with an aperture 42 adjacent apertures 40 and 41 for providing a passageway interconnecting apertures 40 and 1. The checks 16 and17 and tongue 6 are also provided with aligned apertures for receiving the pin 3 thereby forming a pivotal connection between girders 1 and 2-. As the wedge shaped key 4 is forced into apertures 40, 41 and 42 the key 4 bears on one side against girder 1 and on the other side against bearing 5. Key 4 forces the transverse surface of bearing 5 against the plane surface 6 of the tongue end of girder 2 to support and maintain the tongued end of girder 2 in substantially horizontal alignment with the bifurcated end of girder 1.

Figs. 3 and 4- show an embodiment of the invention in which the movable thrust block 5 constituting the joint locking member is arranged entirely Within the girder 1, while 'the'key 4 is likewise disposed in the plane of the axis of the movable girders. The countersupport for the engagement of the thrust block 5 on the front plane 6 is inside the girder section 1 in the location 'markd 8.

As noted from Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings the thrust bearing Sis arranged Within the sides of girder 1 and is arranged to move a predetermined distance longitudinally thereof. Bearing 5 is provided with an aperture 63 which is arranged adjacent aligned apertures 4-4 and 45 formed in the sides of girder 1. Apertures 43, 44 and 45 together form a passageway for receiving the wedge shaped key 4. in the same manner as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 cheeks 16 and 17 and tongue 6 are provided with aligned apertures for receiving pin 3 thereby forming a pivotal connection between girders 1 and 2. As the wedge shaped key 4 isforced'int'o apertures 43, 4d and 45, key 4 bears on one side against girder 1 and on the other side against bearing 5. Key 4 forces the transverse surface of beariug 5 against the plane surface *6 of the tongue end of girder 2 to support and maintain the tongue end of girder 2 in substantially horizontal alignment with the bifurcated end of girder in the example in accordance with Figs. 5 and 6 a further embodiment of invention is illustrated where the thrust bearings 5 for the front plane 6 are arranged in the form of rigid abutment members '9 at the top and bottom of the section of girder 1. Within the pivot point a flat transverse key it) having rounded tensionin'g planes is arranged which projects through a longitudinal aperture in the bifurcated ends of the girder 1, as well as through a corresponding aperture in the head of pivobgirder 2. The aperture in the head of girder 2, however, is enlarged at the places 11, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 6 thus constituting the head a locking memher. The engagement of the key 10 produces a force which is effective along the axis at the pivot point of the girder 2, 'whichforce bears against the front plane 6 of the particular abutment 9 like a lever arm and therefore causes the swinging of the girder 2 with respect to. girder 1, which is made possible by the enlargement of the orifices in the head of girder 2 indicated at 11. As shown in Fig. 5 the transverse key 10 has the conformation of a pivot bolt 12at its reduced end. This pivot bolt 12 serves as a pivot'axle when the transverse key 10 is so far removed during the robbing that the bolt 12 locates i n the area of the apertures of the girder ends. The abutments 9'in view of their arrangement of the top and at the bottom, together with the particular type of construction of the pivot jointmake it possible to provide for swinging of the girders through an angle of As shown in Figs. 7 and 8, key 10 and pivot bolt 12'can also be formed as separable individual members. After supporting the girder 2 by a stemple, the pivot bolt 12 which is provided with a nose 15 is placed upon key 10 to remove it, and then replaces the key 10 in the pivot joint to prepare for the latter robbing.

Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate an embodiment which is somewhat modified with respect to Figs. 5 and 6. Besides the key 13 a regular pivot bolt 14 is employed here which acts as a pivot when the key 13 is withdrawn.

The'embodiment in accordance with Figs. 11 and 12 corresponds substantially to that represented by Figs. 5 and 6 but here the check 17 of the fork is removable and arranged to pivot around a pin 18. The cheek 17 has ledges or projections 20-which engage corresponding recesses in the end of girder 1 so that its pivoting freedom around pin 18 is eliminated upon installation. Simultaneously these ledges 20 absorb the stresses which bear upon cheek 17. When installed, the pin 18 is secured against'displacement in axial direction by a latch member 19. For the installation and release of the girder joint the latch member 19 is released, the pin 18 is displaced longitudinally and transversely to the axis of the girder so that the cheek 17 with its ledges 20 moves out of the corresponding recesses at the end of girder 1 and thus is enabled to a swing outwardly. The key'10, is of course, previously moved back so that it does not impede the downwardmovernent of the check 17 of the fork. The girder 1 may thereupon be pulled away in a lateral direction from the head of-girder-Z which is disposed between cheeks16-and'17. In installing the 'girder'the key'10 is first pushed into the cheek 16 to the extent that the girder 2 may with its head end he placed upon portion 12 and then swung upwardly. Thereupon the cheek 17 of the fork is likewise swung upwardly and placed into the recesses in the girder end 1 with its ledges 20 by moving the pin 18 longitudinally whereupon pin 18 is locked in its position by the latch member 19. Thereupon the key 19 is finally tightened.

The embodiment illustrated in Figs. 13 and 14 corresponds to the embodiment in Figs. 9 and only that here the cheek 17 of the fork is likewise releasable and pivots around the pin 18. In the installed condition the swinging movement is prevented in the same manner as described in connection with Figs. 11 and 12, by the engagement of the ledges 20.

Figs. 15 and 16 illustrate a further embodiment of the invention in side view and plan view where a cheek 17 of the fork is likewise pivotally arranged. The rigid cheek 16 here is provided with a flat sided key 21 over which the bore 22 of the head end of girder 2 can be pushed in the process of installation and the girder 2 can be suspended on girder 1. Thereupon the cheek 17 is at first swung upwardly and then moved laterally over the key 21. By means of this lateral insertion the cheek 17 by means of recesses engages the ledges which in this embodiment are arranged at the ends of girder 1.

In Fig. 17 a further embodiment of the invention is schematically illustrated in which the cheek 17 of the fork is arranged to pivot around the vertical pin 23. When it is in location the cheek 17 is supported by the ledges 2i! whereby the pin 23 is totally or partly relieved of the load which is developed. The cheek 17 may also here be secured by means of pins, latches or movable clamps against unintentional opening of the joint of the fork.

Figs. 18 and 19 show a similar embodiment as Figs. 15 and 16 but here the connection of the girders 1 and 2 takes place in a somewhat different manner in that short trunnions 24 and 25 are arranged in place of the key 21 at the end of girder 2 which engage corresponding recesses 26 in the rigid cheek 16 and in the releasable cheek 17 whereby the swinging of the girder is made possible during installation.

The embodiment illustrated in Figs. 20 and 21 corresponds substantially to the embodiment of Figs. 18 and 19. The ledges 20 here are provided at the end of girder and in installed condition they are in engagement with girder recesses of the releasable check 17 of the fork. The trunnions 24 and 25 are here arranged at the end of the girder 1 at a height corresponding to the engagement position of the key 13. The pin 18 which may be partially of conical conformation is secured by the latch member 19, which is also clearly illustrated in the cross section of Fig. 22. In particular, the latch member 19 has an oblong aperture 27 and portions 28 and 29 which are of greater and smaller thickness, respectively. The pin 18 projects through oblong aperture 27 and in the latched position which is illustrated, the heavier portion 23 of the latch member 19 rests against the head 30 of the pin 18. For releasing pin 18 the latch member 19 may be raised by virtue of the oblong aperture 27 and the head 30 of the pin 18 thus is brought into the range of the thinner portion 29, which makes it possible for the bolt to be displaced in axial direction. Furthermore, a bore 31 is suitably provided at the latch member 19 in which a chain can be placed by means of which latch member 19 is connected with key 13 to thus protect both members against loss.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. Mine supporting structure for working mines comprising a plurality of girders having interengaging ends, each girder having a bifurcated end presenting a pair of cheeks having aligned transverse apertures and a tongued end presenting a tongue having a transverse aperture and a downwardly extending front surface and having a thickness less than the space between the cheeks of an adjacent bifurcated girder end and being received therebetween to form a joint therewith, said joint including a thrust bearing presenting a surface proximate the bottom portion of said bifurcated end transversely of said cheeks for abutment with said front surface of said tongue, a transverse pivot member movable through said apertures in said cheeks and said tongue transversely with respect to the girder ends forming said joint and wedge means for moving said front surface of said tongue and said abutment into supporting engagement.

2. Mine supporting structure for working mines comprising a plurality of girders having interengaging ends, each girder having a bifurcated end presenting a pair of cheeks having aligned transverse apertures and a tongued end presenting a tongue having a transverse aperture and a downwardly extending front surface and having a thickness less than the space between the cheeks of an adjacent bifurcated girder end and being received therebetween to form a joint therewith, said joint including a thrust bearing presenting a surface proximate the bottom portion of said bifurcated end transversely of said cheeks for abutment with said front surface of said tongue and a transverse pivot member movable through said apertures in said cheeks and said tongue transversely with respect to the girder ends forming said joint, and wedge means for moving said front surface of said tongue and said abutment into supporting engagement, said thrust bearing being defined between the checks on the bifurcated end of the girder receiving said tongue, said apertures in said tongue and said cheeks being oblong and said wedge means including a pin portion constituting said transverse pivot member.

3. Mine supporting structure for working mines comprising a plurality of girders having interengaging ends, each girder having a bifurcated end presenting a pair of checks having aligned transverse apertures and a tongued end presenting a tongue having a transverse aperture and a downwardly extending front surface and having a thickness less than the space between the cheeks of an adjacent bifurcated girder end and being received therebetween to form a joint therewith, said joint including a thrust bearing slidably mounted on said bifurcated end of the girder and presenting a surface proximate the bottom portion of said bifurcated end transversely of said cheeks for abutment with said front surface of said tongue and a transverse pivot member movable through said aperture in said cheeks and said tongue transversely with respect to the girder ends forming said joint, and wedge means for moving said front surface of said tongue and said abutment into supporting engagement, said thrust bearing and the girder end on which it is mounted presenting oblong apertures, and said wedge means being in the form of a wedge shaped key extending through said oblong apertures whereby said bearing member is movable in the direction of said front surface on said tongue.

4. Mine supporting structure for working mines cornprising a plurality of girders supported endwise of one another at interengaging joints, each joint including the bifurcated end of a first girder presenting cheeks having transverse apertures and a tongue defined at the end of a second girder disposed between said cheeks and having a transverse aperture, a thrust bearing extending proximate the bottom portion of said first girder transversely of said cheeks, a downwardly extending surface at the end of said tongue for abutment with said thrust bearing, a supporting member movable through said apertures parallel to said abutment and transversely of said girders, said supporting member providing one support for said second girder on said first girder and said thrust bearing and said front surface providing a second support for said second girder on said first girder and a wedge means movable transversely of said girders into a position to hold said front surface of said tongue and said thrust bearing in supporting engagement.

5. A'supporting structure for a mine-comprising a plurality of girders having interengaging ends, each girder having a bifurcated end comprising a pair of spaced cheeks and a tongue end comprising a tongue having a surface at the end thereof extending substantially transversely of the longitudinal axis of saidgirder, said tongue having a thickness less than the space between said checks of an adjacent bifurcated girder end and when inserted between said cheeks forming a 'joint therewith, said cheeks and said tongue being provided with aligned apertures for receiving a pin, a pin mounted within said aligned apertures forproviding a pivotal connection between said tongue and said cheeks, a thrust bearing slidably mounted on said bifurcated girder end for predete'rmined movement longitudinally of said girder, said 15 shaped key-extending transversely of said girder through said apertures of said bearing and said girder and bearing on one side against said girder and on the other side against said bearing, said key forcing-said transverse surface of'said bearing against said surface of said tongue to support and maintain said girder having a tongued end in substantially axial alignment with said bifurcated end of an adjacent girder.

References Cited inthe file of thispatent UNiTED STATES PATENTS 599,717 Maddux Mar. 1, 1898 1,194,767 Mulvihill Aug. 15, 1916 1,821,020 Mensforth Sept. 1, 1931 2,089,649 Hathorn Aug. 10, 1937 2,554,210 Pierre Mar. 17, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS 659,128 Germany 1938 496,549 Belgium 1950 

